Abortion: Issue wrapped up in morality

Rodger Grantham

Springfield

In response to Janice Bausman's letter on the topic of abortion ("Writer showed clear thinking," Nov. 16) , I would argue that the one thing I have failed to see in much of the discourse on the topic, in this paper or anywhere else for that matter, is logical thinking.

If Bausman would like to approach the topic using logical thinking, we can do so, but I don't think it will take the path she is wanting.

Fact No. 1: Life starts at conception. Prior to conception there is just an egg and a sperm, neither containing complete DNA. At their joining, the moment of conception, a new life begins, containing a complete DNA package.

Fact No. 2: This new life is a human being. The DNA of the new life, called the zygote at this point, is human. There is a zero probability that it is a fish, or a dog, or anything else other than a human being.

Fact No. 3: An abortion then will kill a human being. It is at this point where opinion comes into play, not logic, because the basic argument surrounds the question, when is it OK to kill a human being?

The argument that this new life is just part of the woman's body does not stand up to the scrutiny of logic. This new life will have a separate DNA from the host female's body. It will develop its own blood supply, its own heart, lungs and brain. Left to its natural progression, this new life will be expelled from the female's body, leaving her body intact.

The pro-life crowd is willing to give this new human the benefit of the doubt that he or she has the same right to life as anyone else does. The pro-choice group is saying human life is a matter of convenience. When it is not convenient, it is OK to terminate it.

This question of termination is based on morality, or some might say the lack of it, which is a social issue, not one of logic.